Colorado Trail Thru-Hiking Gear List (13 lb Base Weight)
Here is an example of a complete thru-hiking gear list for the Colorado Trail. If you are planning to hike the entire 484 mile trail from Denver to Durango, this list includes everything I think you’ll need for hiking in the Rockies during the typical hiking season (late Spring – early Fall.)
One thing that makes the Colorado Trail unique is the daily thundershowers. They are short-lived, but can be fierce, so this list includes full rain gear and waterproof shoes. Feel free to use this as a template to design your own gear list.
The Big Four
Weight: 6.9 lbs
Clothing Worn
Weight: 4.0 lbs
Clothing Packed
Weight: 3.1 lbs
Cooking & Hydration
Weight: 1.2 lb
Water Bottle
1 Liter Aquafina Bottle
Weight: 1.5 oz
1 Liter Aquafina Bottle
Weight: 1.5 oz
Survival & Miscellaneous
Weight: 2.9 lbs
Phone/Camera/Audio
Smartphone
Weight: 5.5 oz
Smartphone
Weight: 5.5 oz
Consumables
Weight: 15.5 lbs
Water
2 Liters
Weight: 4.4 lbs
2 Liters
Weight: 4.4 lbs
Medication
Advil, Tylenol PM, Immodium AD, Bennadryl
Weight: 0.5 oz
Advil, Tylenol PM, Immodium AD, Bennadryl
Weight: 0.5 oz
Antiseptic
Rubbing Alcohol (1 fl oz)
Weight: 1.5 oz
Rubbing Alcohol (1 fl oz)
Weight: 1.5 oz
Weight & Cost Summary
Packed Gear
The Big Four
Clothing Packed
Cooking and Hydration
Survival and Miscellaneous (minus trekking poles)
The Big Four
Clothing Packed
Cooking and Hydration
Survival and Miscellaneous (minus trekking poles)
Weight
6.9 lbs
3.1 lbs
1.2 lbs
1.9 lbs
6.9 lbs
3.1 lbs
1.2 lbs
1.9 lbs
Pack Weight
Base Pack Weight
+ Consumables
Full Pack Weight
Base Pack Weight
+ Consumables
Full Pack Weight
Weight
13.1 lbs
15.5 lbs
28.6 lbs
13.1 lbs
15.5 lbs
28.6 lbs
+ Worn & Carried Gear
Clothing Worn
Trekking Poles
Clothing Worn
Trekking Poles
Weight
4.0 lbs
1.0 lbs
4.0 lbs
1.0 lbs
Skin-Out Weight
Weight
33.6 lbs
33.6 lbs
Cost
$2,800
$2,800
Granite gear or sea to summit bag ok as a bear/slash food bag or do you recommend an actual bear bag?
Bear Spray? If so, a preference on a brand?
Tyler: If you’re going to hang your food, you can attach a cord to the Granite Gear Zip Sack or Sea to Summit Dry Sacks pretty easily. If you’re looking for a bear-resistant bag to take the place of a canister, you might check out the Ursack. I have some Counter Assault bear spray, but I’ve never used it so I can’t say how well it actually works. I usually don’t pack it unless I’m going into Grizzly country.
Great list. Suggestion: What about disposing of your human waste? A small shovel should be on here so that we leave no trace.
Trekking pole does double-duty as a trowel. Perfect for digging cat holes.
What do you recommend for a power source for cell phone recharging.
Food bag or bear canister? Is it required to have a bear canister?
@Chris: As far as I know, it is not required to carry a bear canister on the Colorado Trail. I prefer a good bag.
I think it is required effective Summer 2018 in some of the first 6 segments.
Yes, in certain areas of Colorado it is required to have a Bear Canister. The information of these requirements are listed on this website. http://www.continentaldividetrail.org
This is a huge help I’m about to,hike the CT for my first thru hike. I have a question : would a large poncho suffice over rain pants? I plan on,getting hiking pants as well which i hope to be rainproof. I do have a rain jacket. I just have a hard time finding pants to fit me im 5’4 and 31 inch waist
@Eric: Some people prefer a poncho over rain jacket and pants. Rain pants themselves aren’t absolutely necessary, since you can hike with wet legs. It’s just a matter of personal preference. The most important thing is to keep your torso dry and warm. I have used a poncho before and the good thing about them is they breathe better than rain jacket/pants. The downside is they are kind of flappy, so they get blown around by the wind and snag on bushes and stuff.
Forgot to mention, with removing those items, you can likely switch to a smaller pack. I don’t have a dissimilar amount of items and had more than enough room in my 50L Osprey Stratos. I plan on switching to the new Exxos 48 or Levity this spring.
I just want to say to stay away from the Sawyer Mini, the lower weight is just not worth it compared to the regular Sawyer. The flow rate is incredibly slow and it can really get backed up. It made my first backpacking trip on the Collegiate West annoying (flow rate) and it ended my 120 mile thru-hike (got permanently clogged).
As far as picking nits, I’d drop the rain pants, waterproof shoes (they’ll still get wet but make your feet sweatier and take longer to dry), pot cozy (just use the kettle), alcohol, repellent, wipes, wallet (just throw your wallet items at the bottom of a dry sack, and remove items from the first-aid kit (I have the same one but managed to reduce its weight by about half). That’s about 1lb there.
I’d also get a compass with a built in signaling mirror, non adjustable trekking poles (fixed length are lighter and simpler), and take a regular cheap toothbrush and cut it in half.
Why do you carry Bennadryl? Why do you carry Advil and Tylenol PM? I am sure the weight is inconsequential.
@Lonnie: I carry Advil to relieve pain and swelling (especially swollen feet), Tylenol PM for pain relief and as a sleep aid when needed (knocks me out quicker than anything else), Bennadryl for allergic reactions (like to insect bites and plant allergies) and Immodium AD for stomach problems and diarrhea. These minor ailments are usually no big deal if they happen at home with drug stores and medical attention are nearby, but out on the trail they could become serious if left untreated. For example, an allergic reaction to an insect bite or dehydration as a result of diarrhea could be fatal. So, I always carry these four drugs just in case.
Eric, my hubby and I love to sleep close, and we have discovered the nemo synthetic double sleeping bag and pad (synthetic because we ladies of a certain age often have hot flashes), a sleeping toque each, as well as the copper spur 3 tent add little to no extra weight and provide comfort, shelter and warmth that we older, average size people enjoy while out on multi day hikes in Mt Robson, Canada. We just divide up the total pack weight. Just a thought for couples 🙂
Eric, I find your site very insightful (no pun intended) and informative. Love your trail diet! Great suggestions. I am doing the West Coast Trail this June. Tried the Exos 58 but the fixed length hip belt was too short for my pudgy 36 waist. I went with the Osprey Aether 60 ($180) with the flexibility of a larger hip belt. This allowed the hip pads to be properly positioned. I love the Aether and I will sacrifice 2.6 lbs for a very comfortable fit and larger carrying capacity. I have the REI Quarter Dome UL1 tent ($165), Enlightened Equipment 30* Prodigy ($200) synthetic quilt and a large Thermarest Neo Xlite ($140). My weight including quilt compression sack and tent footprint is 11.6 lbs.
Other than the REI tent, I shop online to save state tax and get free shipping. Lot of good sites, like yours, to help my purchase choices.
Stay frosty!
It’s awesome how you managed to make the ultralight the most affordable as well! I have that tent and love it btw. Big fan of GG as well so may have to look into that pack for the long hauls. Thanks!
Great to see you have the full Collegiate Loop in the Colorado Trail Pocket Guide 2nd Edition. I am doing the Collegiate this year. Last I used the 1st edition for Molas to Salida and it was great. Very accurate and informative. Well done!
Love this sight to just wish and dream…even tho 75 yrs. old!
I think I would need a foldable light trowel tho.
Thank
Could you elaborate on why you went with waterproof shoes? I thought you were a fan of fast drying non-waterproof. Do you still recommend those for the PCT, whereas the CT is different enough to warrant a different shoe style? Thanks.
@Marcel: Yes, the waterproof shoes is because the Colorado Trail has more frequent thundershowers. They are short, but they can dump a lot of rain on you in a short amount of time. I still prefer the Ventilators for the PCT (at least the California part, the waterproof ones would be good for Oregon/Washington.)
Thanks for this Eric. What type of solar panel and/or battery pack do you use to charge your electronics? I don’t see it in the list above.
@Ovi: My GPS uses AA batteries so I carry spares of those. And I have one extra battery for my cellphone. As long as I keep the phone in airplane mode and use it only for taking pictures and listening to music/audiobooks in camp in the evening, I can usually get by on two batteries between town stops. I bought a little external battery pack/solar charger like this one a couple of years ago, but never really used it. I’m trying to cut back on the electronic distractions and stop and smell the flowers more.
Very helpful. May I ask why you wear safety glasses?
Thanks, ida
@Ida: I like the safety glasses because they are lightweight, cheap and disposable. I used to buy regular sunglasses but they were always getting lost or scratched up on the trail. With these I can buy a dozen and replace them as needed.
Glad to see this update. Your site, along with a select few others, has really helped me consider what I have added to my gear over the past four years as I returned to backpacking.